UID isn't just a number, it is an identity: Nandan Nilekani

ET NowSep 12, 2010, 08.22pm IST

In view of the fact that the first set of unique identification numbers are just a few weeks away, ET Now caught up with Nandan Nilekani, chairman, UIDAI, for his take on what is on the cards and what does getting a unique identification mean for the masses and how does it is going to benefit the society. Excerpts:

We hear that the first set of unique identification numbers are just only a few weeks away, is it?

That is right, a few weeks away.

How many weeks are we talking about here?

A few weeks.

Can you tell us about your target? You have a target of something like 600 million identification numbers in the next 5 years, isn't it?

Yes, in the next 4 to 5 years. When this project started about a year back, we had said that we would start rolling out the numbers in 12 to 18 months. So we are well within that. It will be around 13-13.5 months we had made that announcement. So we should be on schedule.

What about costing? How much is it going to cost?

The cost is really based on budgets that are being given to us.

Your budget for this year is 1900 crore, isn't it?

Yes, 1900 crore and we have an overall budget of about 3000 crore and we have basically committed to the first 10 million numbers. Fundamentally, it is great value for money because if you are able to give every Indian a number, it is not just about giving a number, it is about giving them an identity, it is giving them an acknowledgement of their existence by the state and that is really the main thing and it has huge social benefits.

What is this number really going to verify? What would it mean for me when I have it?

You just think of it as your mobile identity. Think of it like the mobile phone versus the landline. When we had a landline, you were fixed to a particular location. If I had to reach you, I have to know you are at home or in office. Now when I call you on your mobile, I do not care where you are. Your mobile number goes with you. So this is also a form of mobile identity, it travels with you and wherever you are we can verify about a person's identity.

Does it then mean that if I want to open a bank account, then just quoting this number should be enough and that should take care of the KYC?

That obviously requires a little more regulatory changes but yes, the Reserve Bank and the Ministry of Finance are very supportive at least for accounts like no frills accounts, which are really meant for the poor and the impoverished to really participate in the banking system. They will look at how Aadhar number is sufficient for KYC which is a very important step forward which means anybody who has this number should be able to open at least a no frills bank account.